It's a well known fact the Queen never carries cash. And it seems her grandson Prince William is following in her footsteps.

Prince Charles' elder son was short of money as he picked up some groceries in a mini supermarket in north Wales. And it was left to Kate Middleton to foot the bill, brandishing her platinum credit card.

William and Kate bought two frozen pizzas, a bag of oven chips, a bottle of orange juice, an iceberg lettuce, a bag of salad and two bottles of water at the shop, in the small town of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

When they reached the till the shop assistant realised who her royal customer was, though he was keen to keep his identity secret, saying: "No, I'm not."

After the £12.50 total was rung up, the 28-year-old Prince was heard saying to his girlfriend: "Can you pay please? I've not got any cash."

Kate and William have become a regular fixture in north Wales since the second in line to the throne began RAF search-and-rescue training in Anglesey.